JOHNMEIN
Member
Member # 3374

posted August 25, 2006 10:58 PM
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Hi,
I am new and very confused. My husband is 44 years old and was in generally good health. He had more colds than usual over the winter and became concerned when he noticed a lump on his neck that did not go away after 2 round of antibiotics from the medstop. He went to our DO around 6-10 he also gave him antibiotics but insisted he see an ear,nose throat specialists within 2 weeks. We honestly at this point never considered cancer. He was diagonosed on 6-28 and surgery was performed on 7-3. The diagnosed was as follows taken from the surgeons notes:squamous cell carcinoma. He underwent right neck dissection and resection of the right base tongue tumor. 2 of 19 lymph nodes had cancer no extranodal extension into the soft tissue was noted.
We thought it all was removed. He did great healing from the surgery, was on a soft diet when he left the hospital. He has had 2 weeks of radiation w/ebytol and has 5 more to go. He also receives Erbitux once aweek and takes Kytril for nausea.
This past Monday he had gained 3 pounds. Then by Wednesday his tongue was so sore he has hardly ate or slept in 3 days. He has been rinsing with baking soda,but the salt burns too much. He was given a presc. today that is supposed to numb him long enough to eat. But, it burns and he is not wanting to use it. The pain is constant. He is not receiving any pain medications and hasn't since two weeks after surgery. Should he ask for a pain medication? Will they help?
Any suggestions to ease his suffering would be appreciated.
PS:Sorry I rambled so long.
Lisa
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Posts: 2 | From: MISSOURI | Registered: Aug 2006 | IP: Logged